Closings

Severe Weather

Crack closing Blue Ridge Parkway section continues to grow

Published On: Jul 19 2013 10:20:32 AM EDT

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -

A crack that has closed a 20-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina is getting worse.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that chief ranger Steve Stinnett said the crack has gotten wider since Tuesday. Stinnett says the northbound side of the parkway has dropped another couple of inches.

The parkway has been closed between milepost 375 north of Asheville to milepost 355 at Mount Mitchell State Park.

The crack was first noticed July 12.

A detour directs motorists from Asheville to Mount Mitchell using Interstate 40 and U.S. 221.

Stinnett says the crack originally was about 150 feet long and about 4 inches wide. He says it's now more than 200 feet long and about 6 inches wide.

The Federal Highway Administration is assessing the damage.

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